Database Info

GPS, WiFI, BT and Camera All in One Phone

:!: Sorry for the shameless attempt to get you here with a dreamy subject but it's relevant to the topic - honestly. :!:
I'm after a PDAPhone with built in everything. But looks so far like I'm going to have to compromise and get an external GPS receiver, however was just hoping someone might have a little gem that I couldn't find anywhere else in the forums.
I have owned and loved the O2 XDA range ever since my first XDA years ago and have since lugged around an XDAII. I damaged my II recently and have a nice cheque for £550 burning a hole in my pocket courtesy of the insurance company. This means that for the first time ever I don't need to go to a subsidised model. My initial thought was that I'd stump up a few extra quid and get a JamJar :lol: from expansys but now I'm a bit more mature I decided to check out the options first.
So far I've found (Ignoring Naming Variations):
Prices quoted are from expansys - they could be cheaper elsewhere. Pls let me know if you find any (UK Only though)
:arrow: iPAQ hw6515 - Looks a bit crap, small screen and no wi-fi listed but DOES have GPS & 1.3Mp Cam - Anyone know of any Square Aware issues with programs?
:idea: http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=120563
:idea: £439.95
:arrow: i-mate JAM - Small and sexy but no Wi-Fi and no GPS but would stop people asking if I've got a brick taped to my head. + 1.3Mp, COuld afford external GPS with this one.
:idea: http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=I-MATE_JAM
:idea: £359.95
:arrow:Qtek 9090- Has everything But GPS but would leave enough money for a BT GPS - No camera spec but I think it's 0.3Mp like the XDAIIs - Could be upgraded to WM5, My Mate has one and the Thumb Keyboard is easy to use whilst walking - If I use my head not my geekometer this is my favourite.
:idea: http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=QTEK_9090
:idea: £414.95
:arrow: i-mate JASJAR - Dogs balls but still no GPS and not much more than the 9090 + v Expensive & Getting Bigger - 1.3Mp Cam I think. (I have no 3G service anywhere near me so that's not a bonus) I really like the 3.5mm Jack - Overall a severe number of geek points! NO CRADLE Still needs GPS Seperate, not sure how useable while walking the keyboard will be. I really want one.
:idea: http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=119353
:idea: £669.95
:arrow: i-mate K-JAM - WiFi, BT etc, Smaller and lighter than Universal, WM5, 1.3Mp. I like the keyboard. Maybe my new best choice. JUST leaves enough money to think about an external GPS. Thanks JamiJam
:idea: http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=125518
:idea: £504.95
My criteria to consider are as follows, argue with them and persuade me otherwise with reasons if you so wish:
Phone + PDA Essential (Tri Band+)
Camera - Prefer 1+Mp
BT - Must Have
Wi-Fi - Optional but Preferred a lot
3G - Not required
Keyboard - Like to Have (It's awkward using handwriting when travelling)
GPS - Very Nice to Have I Drive a lot and would like to use TT in the future.
OS - Not Bothered, these can be changed
I have 1 Month to decide before I burst and spray money all over the place so I'd really appreciate any comments you might have.
Don't go off on any obscure tangents though please, post them in a new topic and link to it if you wish.

Wizard...
(aka K-Jam, aka Qtek 9100)

Not sure when it will be out but Orange are going to release the Wizard and call it the SPV M600. If you can wait then you'll have it subsidised. :wink:

hmmmmm
Ok, so far the Wizard is my favourite now. I'd completely forgotten about that. What's the keyboard like though? I'm not too fussed about the size (the one on the XDA III is smaller and still useable)? It's more the key action I'm bothered about.
Does it have those rubbish 'rubbery' 'spectrum' style keys? It looks like it does.
I'm still yearning for a Universal cos none of my mates will have one but my head is still saying I don't need it and one of the others will do everything I want.

AFAIK HTC has some kind of arrangement with compaq - HTC will not make a phone with GPS as it competes with a model HTC makes for compaq that does have GPS or something like that (the hw6515 maybe ?)
I have a Blue Angel (O2 XDA IIs) and it does all of this.
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=I-MATE_III
WM5 now available and working fine on it.
It has a keyboard too, it's those blister things (more like a ZX81 than a spectrum) but it is useable, although the keyboard layout is a bit ****e.
What with the newer models coming out you should be able to pick one up cheapish.
I run mine with a Globalsat Bt-338 Bluetooth GPS and Tomtom 5

oh, and FYI, this PDA holder from halfords holds the BA perfectly and can be mounted to your dash. It obscures no ports.
(The pic is upside down BTW)
http://www.halfords.com/opd_product_details.asp?id=16600&type=0&cat=397

The keyboard on the wizard is excellent, in my humble opinion!
It also snaps in and out in a way that makes you feel it won't break down easily.
Finally, it automatically turns the phone's display into landscape mode, which is very handy.

Wizard or BA
I have to say I'm still impressed with the Wizard. Just made a scale model out of card (how sad is that) and it's tiny!
I like the BA but if the keyboard doesn't let the Wizard down I think it'll be my PDA of choice. The one thing I really didn't like about the Jam was its lack of Wi-Fi and that's solved in the K-Jam.
I assume the screen's readable, I like to think that I'll have good eyesight for a couple of years yet so I don't think the size will be an issue.

iPaq HW6515
I have tried without success to get details of the built-in GPS. The one authoritative source to whom I spoke was scathing about its performance. So whatever you do choose, I do not recommend the iPaq.
On a separate note I saw my first Jasjar close up today. It is lighter than you might think, but heavier than is reasonable for prolonged use as a phone. A bluetooth earpiece was being used that included a display for caller ID. As a data device it is pretty impressive.
I too run a GlobalSat BT-338 GPS, in my case with Mapopolis.

if you are going GPS, make sure it is SIRFstar III chipset (the current latest-and-greatest), especially if you live in a city as they are really good at "urban canyon" reception.
I have seen new BT-338s on ebay for £65 "buy it now" recently

plus another thing to think about...
a seperate BT GPS unit has various advantages:
1) Battery
It won't drain your PPC battery when operating, except the charge needed to communicate via BT.
2) Upgrading
If a new improved GPS unit comes out and you have an onboard GPS unit, you are carrying useless baggage and can't sell the old one.
Also bear in mind there will likely be new features added to GPS units.
one example: digital compass. At the moment, if you stand still and rotate, a GPS unit has no clue which way you are facing until you move. A GPS does already transmit heading AFAIK - it works out which way you are facing by assiming you are looking in the direction of travel. Integration of a digital compass therefore would probably require no changes to the protocol. This does exist ( see http://www.xemics.com/internet/solutions/compass.jsp?productID=108 )
3) Switching.
BT GPS units work on laptopss too you know
4) Safety. I use my GPS for a sport called mountain boarding. Same kinda deal as downhill mountain biking, I trace a route I have done using GPS software. I ride with my XDA in a reinforced case with foam in, but find the GPS reception suffers, so I keep the BT GPS unit in my bag and the XDA in the case.
Seeing as the XDA is MUCH more valuable than the GPS this makes sense.
5) Reception versus viewing position.
Sometimes the position with best reception is not the same as the position you can see the screen of your PPC best.

????
Good point.
Ok, more questions on the K-Jam
Camera: Says 1.3/2 Is this 1.3 with software to 'frig' it to 2?
Keyboard: Is the expansys keyboard silver ( http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=125518 ) or black ( http://www.expansys.com/zoompic.asp?type=item&code=125518 )
Silver ones look plastic whereas black ones look rubbery. Which have you got JamiJam? Is it from Expansys?
Processor: 200Mhz? Is that right? Seems quite a drop. Do you have any problems with media playback? I remember my XDA I used to have a problem playing big avi files.
Ta Very Much

Camera is 1.3MP, and it is ****.
Yes, it's better than the Magician, but it's still pretty bad. I wouldn't buy the Wizard hoping to use the camera for anything useful. In my opinion this is the #1 point on which HTC is lacking. They've worked on everything else, now they need to start putting decent cameras in these devices.
I have the silver keyboard and I bought my Wizard in a store. I believe that if you order from expansys you'll get a silver one.
Processor is 200MHz (different CPU architecture) but it seems to be on par with the Magician in practice, maybe 10% slower. So yes, you should be able to watch full screen movies, once you find a bit-rate/resolution/format that works for you. Not sure which XDA you had, but I would expect similar ballpark performance.
Hope this helps.

Ta
The 'performance lacking' XDA was the original XDA I and I'll take your word for it that performance is ok. I don't use it for anything too hot and my XDA II never had a problem with films.
To be honest, every camera phone I've had from the XDA Range was ****ty quality (Very grainy) but I spend a fair bit of time on site collecting info on wagons and stuff for my job and it's always handy to be able to snap a quick video or pic of something. The only reason I want a higher res is so that when some tit with a Sony Ericson goes on about his 2Mp camera I don't loose too many 'top trumps' points. I never print the pics and my main contract doesn't support GPRS so I don't often send MMS. You'd be surprised how easily you can still get by with just plain old WAP.
Good news on the silver buttons. I prefer them. Has anyone bought one from Expansys who can verify?

Sweetness & Joy
Just thought I'd post my decision for those of you who like seing things through to a conclusion.
After much ponderation and constructing various cardboard models I have decided on the HTC Wizard, purchased from expansys (i-Mate K-Jam). There's a delay on delivery at the moment (3 Days!!!! I can't wait) but once it arrives I'll post back with my oppinions.
I've also heard that my mate is buying the JasJar so I'll be able to make a comparison and post it back.
***************************
:!: Come on Friday! :!:
***************************
D'oh! Just a note not say the expansys delivery has been put back but they've dropped the price too.
***************************
:!: Come on Some-Day! :!:
***************************
Just been looking at some larger photos of the buttons
http://forum.xda-developers.com/files/keyboard-flash.jpg
I take back my spectrum comments, they look pretty good.

Hurrah!
Ok! I've got my Wizard at last. I ended up buying the Qtek 9100 rather than the K-Jam. Looks like I'll miss out on Club i-Mate. :-(
Thought I'd post my views on the phone here just to give closure to anyone reading this thread.
The screen is very sharp. Everything obviously is smaller because the pixels are closer together but the overall effect is a very good screen. The guy in our office with really bad eyesight liked it and he's normally a miserable git when it comes to gadgets.
I take back my comments about the keyboard, it looks fantastic, the action is really great and you can use it to type replies to text messages on the move, which is something I've always struggled with before using the Transcriber. People are also really impressed when the screen rotates thru' to landscape.
I've used it for playing some music and although the speakers built in are tinny as you'd expect, the headphones are really good. I don't know if they'd be the same for the i-Mate but they fit comfortably in my ears and have a very good sound compared to the old XDA & XDA II headphones (Not that that would be hard)!
I miss having a cradle. It was nice to be able to display your phone on your desk while it was charging. Just using a USB cable makes it all feel a bit less sexy as an experience but then you can't have everything I suppose.
The coolest thing I found was the Stylus. It's about 50mm long when it first comes out of the phone. Then you give it a little pull and it extends to... hold on let me get a ruler... 85mm. It's not as comfy to use as the XDA/XDA II styli but since i haven't used it for writing much it doesn't matter. The keyboard is so easy to pull out and use that I've only really used the stylus to point at stuff so that my fingers don't get the screen dirty. The softkeys in WM 2005 also mean that you rarely need to touch the screen.
It's a bit chunkier than I expected but still not big. It's only marginally bigger than my girlfriends Nokia 6230 and compared to an older XDA model it feels like it's tiny!
Voice recognition button on the side works really well so far. I've got about 10 contacts programmed in and it seems to be picking them up ok, even in the car.
Overall, i'm yet to find much of a fault with it. I'll try to get some piccies of bits posted sometime next week.
Feel free to ask any questions.

JASJAR II
When the damn thing releases.....of course
I really wouldnt auction my spare kidney and buy it, and then suffer with a RAM deficit! My xda 2 currently running on wm5, has 128megs ram and 32megs rom....compared to 43megs ram & rom of jasjar........one word.......RIDICULOUS!
i cant believe seeing a 7MB RAM free on a device, and i dont ever want to see it! HTC/ IMATE/ Whoever claim they put in less RAM for extended battery life....bucket of crap! I really dont care for those couple extra hours that i'd probably get, and i dont mind carrying a spare battery or a charger wherever i go....
Its a handicap which is BIG! Besides this, the Jasjar is divinely irresistable, and i cant stop oggling at it :shock:
So, i guess i'll wait for a JJ II to come out with same form factor, and somemore ram which would make the device practical....
HTC do you hear me??????
San

weeel
:shock:
RAM isn't everything. I have been using the device for a day now (Non-stop), often running WMP10, Outlook, PIE etc also playing Tomb Raider. I haven't noticed any diference between this and my XDA II which had I think 64Mb and a 400 odd MHz processor. The odd app is a trifle slow to load up but nothing more major than that.
If the battery life sacrifice is true, then it's not for this little puppy. All this usage (with wi-fi on but not actually using a wi-fi network) and the battery didn't drop below 60% yesterday (Using lightly whilst at work and heavily in the evening. I even synced using bluetooth).
Memory has crept down to 1Mb program mem free at times but I assume windows is just doing its thing because this comes back up after a while and I don't notice any drop in performance.

Re: Hurrah!
eayuwna said:
I miss having a cradle. It was nice to be able to display your phone on your desk while it was charging. Just using a USB cable makes it all feel a bit less sexy as an experience but then you can't have everything I suppose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This site: http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/product/5735.htm claims that this desktop charger/cradle is compatible with the K-Jam so if that's true then it should be OK for your QTek. 8)

CaseCrown Bluetooth Keyboard works well

I know having a bluetooth keyboard for a phone with a physical keyboard seems silly, but for long emails (and really for any typing) I find the physical keyboard to be lacking. It may be that I have small hands, but it is uncomfortable and I can never really get my rhythm with it. Anyway, I have been eyeing this keyboard for a while and finally decided to purchase it. I got the iPad version since it was Prime eligible on Amazon. I purchased it also because I am in the market for a 7" tab and wanted a keyboard of comparable size.
It's a small keyboard, about 8.5" wide. They keys are springy and have a nice feel to them. The pairing was a bit trickier than other phones I have used. I had to do the initial pairing, then select the device in the paired list and hit a key on the keyboard to activate it. It doesn't seem to pull up the on screen keyboard when in use, which was a nice surprise. I had already downloaded nullKeyboard in anticipation of that happening.
EDIT: I am not very observant. It does pull up the on screen keyboard. I don't know how I missed it!!
One downside (although minor) is that it doesn't use a standard USB end. It is something smaller than microUSB. Not a big deal, though it would have been nice not to have another cable to keep up with. I haven't used it enough to give any sort of estimate on battery life, but these sorts of things are usually pretty long lasting.
Link:
http://www.amazon.com/CaseCrown-Por...P8EE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322545047&sr=8-1

That's a good posting, thank you.
I just ordered a bluetooth keyboard before thanksgiving:
http://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-9753...LT2E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322557358&sr=8-1
I'll post a review about it when I get it.
I agree with your sentiment about having a physical keyboard.
I want to plug my phone into a TV, then sit back on a couch and play with it, leaving the phone by the TV.
This means Bluetooth keyboard, video game controller, and trackpad.
Have you seen any good trackpapds that are bluetooth? being able to use the touchscreen as a touchscreen by proxy of a trackpad seems like the right answer instead of a mouse.

Blue6IX said:
Have you seen any good trackpapds that are bluetooth? being able to use the touchscreen as a touchscreen by proxy of a trackpad seems like the right answer instead of a mouse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the one I have also considered:
http://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-Promini-Trackball-Bluetooth-Keyboard/dp/B004S214IS/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1322575241&sr=8-6
Many people have recommended the keyboard that has the large square trackpad beside it, like this http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Keyboard-Symbian-Players-TouchPad/dp/B0042VAXKK/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1322575241&sr=8-14 but the trackpad seems too wide to be able to comfortably type of the keyboard. Seems like you'd have to hold it strange on the right side. I like the first keyboard because the trackball doesn't offset the keyboard by too much.

I've seen that mini-keyboard recommended for the Nook Color.
Thing about it for this phone, though, is it just doesn't seem much different fromthe slide-out keyboard. The trackpad is a nice bonus, but if i'm gonna use a whole new physical keyboard, something like what you got or I ordered seems more worthwhile.
Why strain on tiny little thumb-keys when you can get keys sized for fingers and type normally.
Maybe for another device it would be good - just that mini-keyboard seems like too little gain for too big a hassle. Others may feel different, just my personal thoughts without having one.
I say this, though, and when my keyboard comes in i'll be minus a trackpad, so unable to scroll on the phone and still have to keep it right in front of me - therefore only a partial victory.
I'm really glad to hear that the keyboard you have is working out well for you, I was worried that it would be a pain in the tail to make it work right.

I just got mine in.
Works fantastic, fold up and fits in my cargo pocket of my pants.
Works on two AAA batteries, and I have packs of them just laying around thankfully, though I can't imagine it goes through them fast since it has an off switch.
Pairing was simple and easy, subsequent reconnects are seamless.
I like it, happy customer. Now have a keyboard that goes with my phone that outputs to a larger monitor.

Blue6IX said:
I just got mine in.
Works fantastic, fold up and fits in my cargo pocket of my pants.
Works on two AAA batteries, and I have packs of them just laying around thankfully, though I can't imagine it goes through them fast since it has an off switch.
Pairing was simple and easy, subsequent reconnects are seamless.
I like it, happy customer. Now have a keyboard that goes with my phone that outputs to a larger monitor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know why I didn't consider a fold up keyboard! So much more handy and easy to tote about. Thanks for the recommendation. I may just have to pick one up (I have a thing for keyboards ...)

geek_riot said:
I don't know why I didn't consider a fold up keyboard! So much more handy and easy to tote about. Thanks for the recommendation. I may just have to pick one up (I have a thing for keyboards ...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you got a thing for keyboards, let me explain this one a bit more now that i've had it for a day.
It rocks. It's nice to type on, the keys are flat like a laptop. It integrates with android well, haven't had any problems in using it.
It has a little stand that pops out of the back of it, which I can use to support the phone right behind it - very handy.
It folds in half and slips in a case that fits in my cargo pocket - happy. Smaller then my Nook Color when folded, pictured below.
I attached a handful of pictures to give an idea of the size and how it looks.
On each side it has 4 little rubber feet, so when it's folded open it balances on 8 points that don't slide - perfect!
Runs on two AAA batteries, - the only thing is you have to press a recessed button for initial pairing, so you need a tool or something. ( I used a pair of tweezers).
Pictures below:

Do you think that stand would hold a 7" tablet?
Thanks!
Kim

I am quite sure that my Nook Color with the Trident case would break the stand.
It may not, but it sure wouldn't hold it right - it's pretty flimsy.
Fine for the phone, but anything beyond that is asking too much.

Keyboards for the 7+

Im looking for a bt keyboard for my 7+ that is the same physical size so it close in a case. Any suggestions?

KDOG2020 said:
Im looking for a bt keyboard for my 7+ that is the same physical size so it close in a case. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I'm going to give this a go.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/blueto...pu-leather-case-for-samsung-p1000-black-56365

I just got the same keyboard today from Amazon. It was $40 works great. Came in a couple days.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App

how'd you like it?
$40 is half what samsung's site charges.
The stylus looks interesting too.

goldy253 said:
I just got the same keyboard today from Amazon. It was $40 works great. Came in a couple days.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me the exact name for this keyboard? I searched in Amazon and it list tons of different keyboard, most are NOT for the 7+.
I did find this though:
http://www.amazon.com/eWonder-TM-Wi...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327626663&sr=1-3

My local discount/closeout store (Marc's, here in Ohio) had a bluetooth keyboard that's a little big but the price was right... I think it would be big even with a 10" but I haven't compared it to the family iPad yet. Made by Merkury Innovations (no, that's not a typo), was $30 at the store, runs on 2 AAA batteries (which is great for a distracted individual like myself who forgets to charge up non-daily-use devices if they don't have very clear low-battery warning indicators). I've had a ThinkOutside folding Bluetooth Keyboard that I've been using with my MyTouch 4G Slide (when I want to type more than I want to do on a thumbboard - I use my Android devices for taking notes in my grad classes when I don't feel like lugging along my laptop). The ThinkOutside keyboard is great for portability so long as I'm not going to be typing numbers very much (has no dedicated number keys and I find the hold down function and number key combo annoying). I'm also working on a novel and the TO is great for that but my grad classes involve a lot of numeric input so I decided I wanted something with numbers. Tested out the MI keyboard, all the main keys are properly mapped. Not entirely sure about the control/option+alt/command keys. It is about the same keyspacing as a standard keyboard but very little room around the edges. Considering picking up another for our media PC hooked to the television in the family room (cheap nettop box, wanted something a bit more advanced than a roku for the kids to play educational games on & such). We use Unified Remote on our Android devices to control that television to good effect, keyboard would be more for the kids to use and this one is good footprint and price for that use also.

DragonMam said:
My local discount/closeout store (Marc's, here in Ohio) had a bluetooth keyboard that's a little big but the price was right... I think it would be big even with a 10" but I haven't compared it to the family iPad yet. Made by Merkury Innovations (no, that's not a typo), was $30 at the store, runs on 2 AAA batteries (which is great for a distracted individual like myself who forgets to charge up non-daily-use devices if they don't have very clear low-battery warning indicators). I've had a ThinkOutside folding Bluetooth Keyboard that I've been using with my MyTouch 4G Slide (when I want to type more than I want to do on a thumbboard - I use my Android devices for taking notes in my grad classes when I don't feel like lugging along my laptop). The ThinkOutside keyboard is great for portability so long as I'm not going to be typing numbers very much (has no dedicated number keys and I find the hold down function and number key combo annoying). I'm also working on a novel and the TO is great for that but my grad classes involve a lot of numeric input so I decided I wanted something with numbers. Tested out the MI keyboard, all the main keys are properly mapped. Not entirely sure about the control/option+alt/command keys. It is about the same keyspacing as a standard keyboard but very little room around the edges. Considering picking up another for our media PC hooked to the television in the family room (cheap nettop box, wanted something a bit more advanced than a roku for the kids to play educational games on & such). We use Unified Remote on our Android devices to control that television to good effect, keyboard would be more for the kids to use and this one is good footprint and price for that use also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which Marc's?

bought this at my local Fry's. I know it's a little bit longer than the Tab+ but I think it's the perfect size while not making the keys too small and thin enough when i want to pack a keyboard with me. I tried a few where the keyboard was exactly the same length as the tablet and the keys were so small and cramped that it wasn't worth it with all the errors introduced during my typing test.
Manufactured by Azio and can pair and switch between 6 different BT devices via hotkey.
The only thing i was hoping to see by now is a keyboard that has android shortcut keys for the home, back, search, and recent. Has anyone seen a hardware keyboard that does that?

lanwarrior said:
Can you tell me the exact name for this keyboard? I searched in Amazon and it list tons of different keyboard, most are NOT for the 7+.
I did find this though:
http://www.amazon.com/eWonder-TM-Wi...3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1327626663&sr=1-3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, this alone is a very awesome find. I wish to know if it has cutouts for the IR Blaster though

dealextreme case
I purchased that keyboard case from dealextreme. It took a wile to get here but was in good condition. The unit worked fine connected well and works as advertised. I do have several problems with it. The tab does not fit tightly in the holder. The case adds significantly to the size of the tab. There is nothing to hold the case closed. The final downfall is I think I can type faster on the onscreen keyboards.
Jon

jonsteckelberg said:
I purchased that keyboard case from dealextreme. It took a wile to get here but was in good condition. The unit worked fine connected well and works as advertised. I do have several problems with it. The tab does not fit tightly in the holder. The case adds significantly to the size of the tab. There is nothing to hold the case closed. The final downfall is I think I can type faster on the onscreen keyboards.
Jon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have the same keyboard. Works nicely in class lectures when I need to take notes. Then one day I forgot it (because it's so mahoosive) and found out I type faster and more accurately with thumb keyboard.....yeah.....

Macros617 said:
Yeah I have the same keyboard. Works nicely in class lectures when I need to take notes. Then one day I forgot it (because it's so mahoosive) and found out I type faster and more accurately with thumb keyboard.....yeah.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What app for you use for notes?
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk

domin8 said:
What app for you use for notes?
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the built in polaris office application. Works nicely. I also use docs to go

Any Keyboard Updates?
I'm also in the market for a keyboard for my tabby.
Anybody find any additional keyboards that are worth looking at?
Also do you experience lag when using your keyboard?
Plus, can you use a mouse with the tab+?
best regards,
G.B. Says

Logitech Tablet Keyboard
I just picked up a Logitech Tablet Keyboard (NOT the Logitech iPad keyboard - they are different models). Build quality is awesome - this is a solid yet still lightweight device. It had no problem pairing up with the GT+ and did not drop any keystrokes when I used it to type.

Added bonus - the Logitech keyboard fits perfectly in a Vera Bradley "Cheers to You" wine bottle tote. For the stylish girl geeks.

I have the Official Keyboard Dock from Samsung and I really enjoy it.

I finally decided and picked up the Logitech bluetooth keyboard for Android. Pretty nifty; seems like a sold keyboard, synched right away to my 7+, like the fact that the keyboard has its own case that converts into a stable angled perch for the 7+ and that you can use it with the table either in landscape or portrait. Though I do wish it had multiple tilt lockings so I can choose what angle my 7+is perched at. So far, very pleased with the purchase.
Sent from my GT-P6210 using xda premium

I was thinking of getting a keyboard but are there any real advantages?other than the hole physical keyboard its self?
Sent from my GT-P6210 using Tapatalk 2

If you find that you are typing more than short messages or notes, you might want to consider it.
G.B. Says
And remember, talking dogs are liars.

Quality and usability of keyboard

Hey all,
I'm mulling over picking up a TF700 instead of a new laptop for working at home. Most of my work is with word documents or emails so software-wise it suits my needs and obviously is more flexible for relaxing with than a laptop.
My main concern is the quality and durability of the keyboard. I won't be spending all my time working on it, but might do a couple of hours on a weekend so the keyboard needs to be at least as good as a run-of-the-mill laptop keyboard.
The reviews iv read have been mixed on the keyboard, some saying its more suited to shorter bursts of activity but not really for extended stretches. Im not sure where Il be able to find an outlet to test the keyboard when its released so I'm trying to get current users' opinions.
Could someone share their experience so far and whether its likely to meet my needs?
Many thanks

BishopBlaize said:
Hey all,
I'm mulling over picking up a TF700 instead of a new laptop for working at home. Most of my work is with word documents or emails so software-wise it suits my needs and obviously is more flexible for relaxing with than a laptop.
My main concern is the quality and durability of the keyboard. I won't be spending all my time working on it, but might do a couple of hours on a weekend so the keyboard needs to be at least as good as a run-of-the-mill laptop keyboard.
The reviews iv read have been mixed on the keyboard, some saying its more suited to shorter bursts of activity but not really for extended stretches. Im not sure where Il be able to find an outlet to test the keyboard when its released so I'm trying to get current users' opinions.
Could someone share their experience so far and whether its likely to meet my needs?
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the keyboard very much, but for hours and hours on end?....... Nah. Not for larger files, reports, etc. Occasional e-mail, yes... forum posts, yes. Something resembling real work? No.

From what I've experienced with the tf300 keyboard (same product just different materials and hinge interface width) it's not perfect, but it still allows for fast and comfortable typing. It beats touchscreen typing by a long shot. It also comes in handy if your sitting in a recliner because it keeps the tablet upright without having to hold it.
As far as quality goes, the touchpad seems kind of cheap, and the material scratches easily, but the hinge is solid metal and the latch is pretty strong and shouldn't give you trouble.
I wouldn't say its as good as a laptop keyboard though simply because it's much smaller.

rightonred said:
From what I've experienced with the tf300 keyboard (same product just different materials and hinge interface width) it's not perfect, but it still allows for fast and comfortable typing. It beats touchscreen typing by a long shot. It also comes in handy if your sitting in a recliner because it keeps the tablet upright without having to hold it.
As far as quality goes, the touchpad seems kind of cheap, and the material scratches easily, but the hinge is solid metal and the latch is pretty strong and shouldn't give you trouble.
I wouldn't say its as good as a laptop keyboard though simply because it's much smaller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it depends...did you want a laptop (which is on average 15") or a netbook (10")? The Infinity is basically the size of a small netbook when plugged into the dock, so obviously the keys aren't going to be as large. That's the main difference I took away when I played with the TF201 dock. The keys seemed perfectly okay to type on, but the size might strain your fingers if you're working consistently for a few hours. I'd stick with a real keyboard (and you can plug in a bluetooth keyboard for a nicer, bigger keyboard if that's something you're into)

Mini keyboard for S5 Available?

This has received terrible reviews, but I do like its form factor:
http://www.amazon.com/TOP®-Bluetoot...-3&keywords=bluetooth\+keyboard+for+galaxy+s5
Anybody use anything else?
Jake

jakfish said:
This has received terrible reviews, but I do like its form factor:
http://www.amazon.com/TOP®-Bluetoot...-3&keywords=bluetooth\+keyboard+for+galaxy+s5
Anybody use anything else?
Jake
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know - the reviews aren't worth their time for the product. the description of the product itself is clearly ESL which doesn't build confidence about the budget they had in making this thing. However two of the 3 critical reviews are either irrelevant (doesn't fit his note 3... ) or unreliable. The one that specifies criticisms has such poor grammar as to be undecipherable in some places, but does point out the bulk and possibly poor hardware design of the case. I don't expect this thing to be thin, but it's ridiculous that the description and specs don't mention the actual SIZE of the product. It's weight is more than 10 oz though which is getting up there.... worrying for sure.
However the same reviewer also comments that the text you type is "perpendicular"... presumably he isn't aware of how to choose apps that can work in landscape or know enough about his phone to know how to enable rotation. So all in all we have one clear negative which is the bulk of the product.
I don't want a bulky keyboard/case either, but it may be a requisite since at least this keyboard has real buttons.
I wish people would talk about the keyboard feel/action (is it actually possible to type on (Despite the misaligned qwerty layout) or is it too hard to press fast... stuff like that).
I also wish the real dimensions were published.
So I do agree with you - I want something like that but with at least enough information to be worth spending $50 or more to get (After taxes/shipping/exchange rate etc as I'm in Canada). No way I'm throwing away that much money unless I know it's worth it.
For big bucks there is that new laser keyboard they keep promoting before movies in theatres LoL.... but (a) I expect it's super expensive and hard to find, and (b) can you imagine typing on anything LESS responsive than just a desktop surface without being able to feel key edges or motion??
Anyhow.... ideas would be welcome here.
---------- Post added at 12:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------
ya know, honestly I'd rather have an unfold able bluetooth keyboard that reaches near full size and has decent action that I can put in my other pocket than deal with a crappy keyboard case only to have such a small keyboard as to be only marginally better than typing on the phone itself.
so a foldable full size qwerty keyboard that gets really small and thin for pocket carrying sounds ideal.
Is there such a thing (that doesn't cost $500)?

http://www.cellphoneshop.net/s5btokey.html
I ended up rolling the dice on this--it was 20usd/free shipping. Worth a look-see. And I think it's the same one so extravagantly priced on Amazon. It's on a slow boat from China, so fingers crossed. While waiting, I also went ahead and purchased/installed "External Keyboard Help Pro," an amazing app that allows full key/character customization of a bt keyboard. I set up the layout on a Ipad bt keyboard, but since the coding is unicode rather than hardcode, I'm hoping the layout/keystrokes will transfer successfully to the arriving mini keyboard.
I had forgotten the laser keyboard, but I'm with you: how good could can the form factor be?
If this thing ever gets here, I'll certainly post back my impressions. I do see that same keyboard kicking around on ebay for under 20usd, sans case, but I don't know if such ubiquity is good or bad.
Thanks for your thoughtful post,
Jake

I've had a bluetooth keyboard for probably 18 months now... Got it on special for 5.99 GBP, made by Xenta.. It is not attached to the phone but I keep it in my work rucksack, along with a bluetooth mouse. The only downside about it for me is that the buttons are rubberised. IF the buttons were more like a blackberry this keyboard would be ace - but you do need to sit the phone somewhere so you can type using the keyboard. A plus is that I can use this keyboard with any device that accepts bluetooth keyboards, hence it has been paired with my HTC One X+, Samsung Note 3 and S5.
6 Pounds - can't go wrong.
Here's a better one that says it has a mouse feature built in. http://www.ebuyer.com/247588-xenta-...keyboard-with-mouse-touchpad-2-4ghz-rf240-50k

Rubberized keys seem to be a complaint about other brands of keyboards as well--it must be the cheapest way to make them sell for 6 Pounds
My en route keyboard is also rubberized. Should be an adventure in qwerty.
The mousepad from your link's model draws complaints--I had a vague little optical mousepad on my Sidekick 4G that would freak out in sunlight. It's hard to make these things both cheap and good.
I'm most interested in whether the contraption will a) fit in a front pocket of jeans b) be useful as a phone when it sits in the case
Jake

This is why OEMs should look into hardware keyboards again. This is what made the original G1 great.
Sent from my toaster

The keyboard/case arrived and for 20 bucks, I have no complaints. It paired right away and afterwards, when bt is enabled on the S5 and the keyboard is turned on, it connects fast and without problem.
As for the keyboard itself, it ain't no HP Jornada 720 or any other handheld computer. The keys are rubberized and own a certain mushiness and obviously, it's a smaller layout than any h/pc.
If this analogy rings a bell with anybody, I would compare usability to the Psion Revo keyboard. The tactile sense b/w the two is literally hard and soft, but their sizes are similar and the typing vs mistakes is roughly equal for both the Psion and this.
The phone casement is velcro-ed and to enable a quasi laptop mode, you loosen the phone's bottom half to set it at a slight angle.
The External Keyboard Helper Pro saves the day: I programmed a second Shift key, key-mapped many punctuation alternatives (mostly smart quotes, etc), key-stroked apps (e.g. alt-w = word processor). Everything was done without root.
You can tell by its thickness that the case/keyboard/phone will not fit into a jeans' front pocket, which is where I like to carry my S5. I would imagine it would fit into the front pocket of dress pants, but noticeably so.
Wish me luck posting these pictures,
Jake